Rhetorical Strategies In Pride And Prejudice

In both the Pride and Prejudice excerpt written by Jane Austen and Dickens’ Our Mutual Friends passage, several rhetorical strategies, including assumption, tone, diction, and arguments, are strategically used in order to affect the women that the speakers are addressing in positive ways. However, the probable effects on the receiving end of these statements are not quite the same as the intended effects.

In Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, logos, inaccurate assumptions, an arrogant tone, and diction are all in place to convince the woman to see that there is no logical reason not o marry the unnamed speaker. The speaker mentions that he is told by his smart, successful patroness that “[marriage] is [her] particular advice and recommendation” (Austen, 5). He uses

this woman’s comments as evidence for his claim that marriage to him is wise; he therefore assumes that the speaker will see this form his point of view and immediately agree to his proposal.

The speaker also has a very arrogant tone, as is showcased when he refers to himself as a “clergyman in easy circumstances” (Austen, 2). He speaks as if his position in society is an extremely important part of the marriage, almost bragging to the woman. This, in addition to his condescending use of diction definitely contributes to the likely effect on the woman. The probable response form the woman would reflect an unsettled emotion due to the speaker’s lack of passion as well as his excessive arrogance.

Charles Dickens’ piece, Our Mutual Friends, shows an entirely different intended effect while still using rhetorical devices including pathos, negative assumptions, an attitude of desperation, and diction. Pathos is the rhetorical device that is majorly in play within this piece. The speaker tells the woman being addressed that she “[can] draw [him] to anything [he] has most avoided,” showing his extreme love and dedication to her (Dickens, 6). In this quote, the speaker reveals not only his devotion but also his attitude of

desperation to convince her to marry him. He is willing to do absolutely anything for this woman who he is madly in love with. He also, however, has clearly thought about the woman’s response in the past because he very blatantly assumes that she will have a negative response. He proves this fact when he expresses his fear, saying that he “might only weaken what is ill enough said as it is” (Dickens, 19). He believes that if he continues to speak, his arguments will be even worse than what he has already failed at doing and that he will then truly have no chance with this woman. The lack of self-confidence is very evident in this speaker. Diction is also a rhetorical device used in this excerpt, exemplified when the speaker uses “love,” a word accompanied by extremely strong emotion in his letter to this woman. This language shows the woman how extreme his feelings for her are and the remainder of the piece only supports this. He makes his major point through only one word, making a very effective use of diction. Altogether, the speaker intends to attempt to change this woman’s mind on marrying him, unlike the other man, who thought that he was simply going through a formality. However, the effect on the woman would probably still be negative. She would be immediately uncomfortable with his overuse of desperation, intense emotion, and lack of confidence. She might prefer someone who is more professional or formal while still having the same amount of appreciation for her.
Both excerpts are likely to be ineffective proposals, regardless of the fact that the rhetorical strategies used are generally effective for their purpose.